Hide-away clothes rack



p 1963 J. P. HIGHTOWER 3,102,639

HIDE-AWAY CLOTHES RACK Filed Jan. 25, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fl G. 5

11kg |4 2s \& l2 E L23 FIG. 2

2v 7 l2 I2 21 INVENTOR l5 55 J. PAUL HIGHTOWER BY 6; JMQL ATTORNEY p 1963 J. P. HIGHTOWER 3,102,639

HIDE-AWAY CLOTHES RACK Filed Jan. 25. 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 4

United States Patent 3,102,639 HIDE-AWAY CLOTHES RACK Joseph Paul Hightower, 423 Lively Drive, San Antonio, Tex. Filed Jan. 25, 1962, Sci. No. 168,670 3 Claims. (Cl. 211103) The primary object of the present invention is to disclose a clothes rack having ornamental features.

It is another object of the present invention to disclose an ingenious clothes rack with hanging facilities for clothes.

It is still another object of the present invention to disclose a hide-away clothes rack.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of the clothes rack of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a more detailed front elevation of the clothes rack;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the device;

FIGURE 4 is a front view of the clothes rack with inside portion thereof being exposed;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevation of a part of the arrangement for guiding a clothes hanger.

Now turning to FIGURE 1, it will be seen that a number of clothing apparel may be suitably distributed on the clothes rack, generally, 11 of the present invention. It will be further noted that the clothes rack of the present invention may be mounted on a wall 13. The clothes rack 11 when not in use presents the appearance of being either a framed picture or a framed mirror, as desired. In other words, a wooden or plastic ornamental frame 15 surrounds the inset portion 17 which preferably may be a mirror or may be a suitable picture.

When the clothes rack is not in use the means upon which clothes may be hung are hidden in a recessed condition. It is apparent from FIGURE 1 that a considerable number of hanging means are provided each of which may be manipulated in order to bring them into a usable position.

Attention is now directed to FIGURE 2, for a more detailed consideration of the invention. A plurality of support members 12 are located along the side portions of the frame 15. These support members comprise horizontally pivoted levers 14 which have a grasping portion 16. The support members, when not in a utilizable condition, present the appearance shown in FIGURE 2 along the left side of the frame and the bottom member of the right side of the frame 15. The support member 12 shown in the upper right side of the frame 15 is in a position to support an article of clothing. The lever portion 14 of the support member 12 fits into a recess 18 of frame 15. A clearer View of the support member 12 can be seen in FIGURE 3 where the support member 12 is in substantially horizontal position. Lever 14 is pivoted as at 20. A pin 21 in the side of recess 18 slides in an arouate groove 22 and acts as a stop for lever 14. The pin 21 is inserted fnom the side edge of the frame through i a suitably drilled hole and extends into the recess 18.

The arrangement can be clearly seen from the two lower support arrangements of FIGURE 2.

Any of :the four support members may be utilized when desired by grasping the portion 16, which may have an outer ornamental facing resembling a medallion, andmoving the support member 12 into a horizontal position.

In addition to the support members 12 a plurality of other supporting means are located along the two sides of the frame 15. These additional support means can be seen as heavy wire hook-like supports 23. These wire supports 23 are actually hidden behind the frame until needed. Additional detailed consideration of the wire supports will be presented below.

Attention is now directed to FIGURES 3 and 4 for a further consideration of the clothes rack. The back of the frame is fastened to a sheet metal plate 24, as seen in FIGURE 3. Angle fittings 25 are suitably secured to the back of the plate 24. Two of the fittings can be seen in FIGURE 3. The frame 15 encloses the front portion of a sheet metal box-like compartment 26. The compartment serves the purpose of a base or foundation for the wire supports 23 and another type of hanger 41, more about which will be presented later. The engagement of the fittings 25 to the compartment 26 are made along four sides 27 thereof by means of bolts 28 which pass through the fitting and engage the sides 2'7 as at 29 due to the presence of nuts 38 which have been suitably secured to bolts 28.

The compartment has a sheet metal back portion. The compartment is secured to the wall 13 by means of bolts 31 which pass through apertures in the back of the compartment. The sides, top and bottom of the compartment have perpendicular portions 32 having forwardly facing surfaces which are in abutment with the .frame 15. it will be seen therefore that the frame extends along all sides beyond the compartment.

The wire supports 23 are retractable hooks. The hooks have bends in order that the short end 23A may serve the purpose of a stop extension. The hooks are assembled into the fittings 35 which is mounted in the sides 27 of the compartment 26. It will be seen from FIGURE 3 that the fittings 35 fit into slots 36 in sides 27 and are suitably secured as by welding. The fitting comprises a tubular journalling portion 35A, for the shank portion of the books, within the compartment and an angled portion 3513 outside the compartment. The forwardly extending surface thereof is in abutment with the back of the frame 15.

The stops 36 limit the rotation of the hooks 23 and are suitably secured to the inside back portion of the compartment. From FIGURE 4, a hook 23B in dotted lines can be seen :in the upper left side which is in a retracted position. The portion 23B is in a vertical position as is portion 23C. When the hooks are to be utilized, the carrying portion of the hook is grasped and moved to the left side in order to move the hook beyond the edge of the frame 15. The hook is then moved down- Wardly to a horizontal position until portion 23C is in confrontation with the underside of stop 36. In order to retract the hooks the opposite operation is instituted.

Along the bottom of the compartment 26 is a large opening 60 to accommodate a retractable coat and pants hanger 41 which is constructed of heavy wire having a suitable configuration. The hanger is secured by means of extension 42 to vertically movable carriage 4-3 having horizontal rods 44 and 45 which are connected by web 46. A ring 47 is secured to the center of the carriage. A coil spring 48 has one end connected to the ring '47 and the other end to anchor plate 49, which is secured to the back of compartment 26. The rods 44 and 45 have horizontally pin ends 50 which ride in cam slots 51 of two brackets 52 which are mounted to the back of compartment 26 'by means of screws 53.

A better understanding of the brackets 52v may be had from FIGURE 5. It will be seen that cam slot 51 has a forwardly extending portion 51A near the bottom portion thereof permitting the hanger to move outwardly away from the wall as it reaches the bottom portion of the stroke.

In order to maintain the hanger 41 in a position to accommodate clothes a locking arrangement is provided. Attention is directed to FIGURE 3 where a trigger actuator 55 is provided with a spring extension 56. The trigger engages a slot 57 in the hanger extension 42 when the rack is extended. When the trigger 55 withdraws the actuator heel 61 from the slot 57 the spring 48 retracts the hanger 41 into the compartment 26, leaving the lower loop 62 of the hanger positioned so that it may be grasped by the hand to withdraw it to the position shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 when desired.

A hook 60 is located in the uppermost portion of the compartment 26. This hook 60 has an L-shaped configuration which portion 60A journailed in bearing 61 which is secured to and through the upper wall 62 of the compartment so that the hook 60 is pivotable towards the Wail 1 3 and away therefrom for use.

Without further analysis, it will be seen that the invention described in detail in the above accomplishes the objects of providing clothes rack which is both useful and ornamental.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may he resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A hide-away clothes rack comprising a compartment having integral back, side, top and bottom portions, a front portion including a frame and an inset therebetween, at least one support member piuotaily hinged in a slot in said frame, said support member being adapted to pivot out of said recess to a horizontal position, at least one hook pivotally mounted along a side of said compartment, said hook being adapted to pivot along a horizontal axis, an opening in the bottom of said compartment, a hanger assembly adapted to pass through said opening, said hanger assembly being supported by a vertically movable carriage, said movable carriage being mounted between support means, said support means including cam slot arnangement for said carriage, spring means connected to said carriage and said compartment for retracting said hanger assembly through said opening and partialvly into said compartment.

2. A hide-away clothes rack comprising a compartment having integral back, side, top and bottom portions, 21

front portion including a frame and an inset therebetween, at least one support member pivotally hinged in a slot in said frame, said support member being adapted to pivot out of said recess to a horizontal position at least one hook pivotally mounted along a side of said compartment, said book being adapted to pivot along a horizontal axis, an opening in the bottom of said compartment, a hanger assembly adapted to pass through said opening, said hanger assembly being supported by a vertically movable oarriage, said movable carriage being mounted between support means, said support means including cam slot arrangement for said carriage, spring means connected to said carriage and said compartment for retracting said hanger assembly through said opening and partially into said compartment, and latch means for retaining said hanger assembly in an extending position outside said compartment.

3. A hide-away clothes rack comprising a compartment having integral back, side, top and bottom portions, a front portion including a frame and an inset therebetween, at least one support member pivotally hinged in a slot in said frame, said support member being adapted to pivot out of said recess to a horizontal position, at least one hook pivotally mounted along :a side of said compartment, said book being adapted to pivot along a horizontal axis, said hook having an extending portion into said compartment through said side, a stop means positioned in said compartment for holding saidhook in a horizontal position, said hook being slidarble along a pivot means, an opening in the bottom of said compartment, a hanger assembly adapted to pass through said opening, said hanger assembly being supported by a vertically movable carriage, said movable carriage being mounted between support means, said support 'means including cam slot orrangement for said carriage, spring means connected to said carriage and said compartment for retracting said hanger assembly through said opening and partially into said compartment, and latch means for retaining said hanger asembly in an extending position outside said compartment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 509,242 Parks Nov. 21, 1893 891,228 Bowen June 23, 1908 1,587,676 Patterson June 8, 1926 1,696,089 Huey Dec. 18, 1928 2,793,062 Fleming May 21, 1957 

1. A HIDE-AWAY CLOTHES RACK COMPRISING A COMPARTMENT HAVING INTEGRAL BACK, SIDE, TOP AND BOTTOM PORTIONS, A FRONT PORTION INCLUDING A FRAME AND AN INSET THEREBETWEEN, AT LEAST ONE SUPPORT MEMBER PIVOTALLY HINGED IN A SLOT IN SAID FRAME, SAID SUPPORT MEMBER BEING ADAPTED TO PIVOT OUT OF SAID RECESS TO A HORIZONTAL POSITION, AT LEAST ONE HOOK PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ALONG A SIDE OF SAID COMPARTMENT, SAID HOOK BEING ADAPTED TO PIVOT ALONG A HORIZONTAL AXIS, AN OPENING IN THE BOTTOM OF SAID COMPARTMENT, A HANGER ASSEMBLY ADAPTED TO PASS THROUGH SAID OPENING, SAID HANGER ASSEMBLY BEING SUPPORTED BY A VERTICALLY MOVABLE CARRIAGE, SAID MOVABLE CARRIAGE BEING MOUNTED BETWEEN SUPPORT MEANS, SAID SUPPORT MEANS INCLUDING CAM SLOT ARRANGEMENT FOR SAID CARRIAGE, SPRING MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID CARRIAGE AND SAID COMPARTMENT FOR RETRACTING SAID HANGER ASSEMBLY THROUGH SAID OPENING AND PARTIALLY INTO SAID COMPARTMENT. 